Black History Month Race and society

Our librarians selected these resources to illuminate history.

Each February, Black History Month is observed in the United States to honor and celebrate Black history. For more than 100 years, the nation has set aside the month of February to recognize and celebrate the achievements, contributions, and lasting impact of Black Americans.

Related reading and more

Title: Black Boy, Rise [electronic resource] / Brynne Barnes

Black Boy, Rise

 Barnes, Brynne
Title: I Am, Yo Soy: Dual-Lingual English-Spanish

I Am, Yo Soy

 Orozco, Gabriela

Oregon Black Pioneers

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Oregon African American Museum

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Dive into a specific subject

Explore historical documents, immerse yourself in various cultural perspectives, and discover an extensive array of educational resources related to race and society.

Black and Jewish America

This PBS docuseries airing FEbruary 2026 explores this interwoven history.

Campu: Podcast

Campu shares the story of Japanese American incarceration through survivor voices woven by siblings Noah and Hana Maruyama.

COW CREEK EDUCATION RESOURCE CENTER

Access the Takelma language dictionary, explore educational materials, listen to restored audio and more.

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Explore a century of Black history commemorations.

Black History Month national resources

The Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum join in paying tribute to the generations of African Americans who struggled with adversity to achieve full citizenship in American society.

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Local resources

BLACK SOUTHERN OREGON ALLIANCE
Black Southern Oregon Alliance enhances educational and economic opportunities for Black/African Americans and People of Color.
BASE: BLACK ALLIANCE & SOCIAL EMPOWERMENT
BASE builds a supportive community where Black Southern Oregonians feel safe, respected, and authentic.
COALITION FOR COMMUNITIES OF COLOR
The Coalition of Communities of Color combats socioeconomic disparities, racism, and inequitable services locally.

Archives and encyclopedias

CHINESE AMERICANS IN OREGON
Explore everything from the Oregon Trail and Native Americans, to the arts and archeology of Oregon. Learn about the Cantonese-Chinese during the Pioneer Period in the 1850s.
HISTORIC OREGON NEWSPAPERS
Search and access complete content for historic Oregon newspapers dating back to 1946.
NDNHISTORY RESEARCH
Browse a collection of essays on the history and anthropology of Oregon's indigenous tribes.

NBC5's "The History of Racism in Southern Oregon"

Join NBC5 for a three-part mini series covering the history of racism in southern Oregon.

Part 1

Look back at Oregon’s history with race and uncover some difficult realities.

Part 2

NBC5 breaks down the last 100 years of Oregon's history.

Part 3

Learn how minorities feel they’re treated in the Rogue Valley.